Biopharmaceutical Innovation - Providing Value in the U.S. Health Care System

Biopharmaceutical Innovation - Providing Value in the U.S. Health Care System

03.22.13 | By Randy Burkholder

Recent reports by PhRMA on medicines in development for older Americans and on biologics in development highlight many of the significant advances that America's biopharmaceutical companies are working on bringing to patients. A new report released earlier this week by Avalere Health highlights the growing demands for evidence that payers and other health care decision-makers are placing on new medicines after FDA approval.

This trend is not unexpected in today's cost-conscious environment. And to some extent, it is to be embraced - new medicines offer substantial value to patients and the health care system, and it's important to demonstrate this through continued research.

At the same time, as the Avalere report highlights, these evidence demands need to align with the process of biopharmaceutical innovation, so that emerging advances continue to reach patients. As policy-makers seek new approaches to controlling health care costs, it's important to ensure that they reflect the complex, dynamic process of medical progress and provide incentives for continued innovation.

The Avalere report, based on a dialogue with leaders from across the health care system, identifies key themes and potential solutions for achieving this alignment and supporting high-quality, patient-centered care.

I'll be participating in a webinar that Avalere is sponsoring on March 28, where we'll delve into some of the key findings from the report. In addition, BioCentury This Week is planning to air an episode on March 31 to discuss the Avalere dialogue and report.

One of the report's more interesting findings was on the challenges "in creating centralized coverage policies to nimbly accommodate and mandate the diffusion of new technologies." "Inherent in calls for healthcare system that allows for 'continuous learning' is an acknowledgement" that the tension between demands for evidence of value and access to valuable advances must be reconciled, according to Avalere.

This was just one of several important conclusions that emerged from Avalere's in-depth analysis.

I hope you'll join us on March 28 as we explore a range of key issues in aligning evidence-based decision-making and continued innovation.